Seven Eight Nine

In every way possible, math terrifies me. And it doesn't really help that Sir Isaac Newton created calculus to explain the universe. So with that little factoid, math is obviously a really big deal.

I've never been too great at math. I can understand and absorb everything in one class period and then forget everything by the time I am halfway through the semester. My performance at math always depended on how well the teacher explained everything. Clear instruction and repetition are great. I found that practice made me understand math better. But regardless of how much practice and studying I did, everything I've learned in one school year will vanish by the first day of summer. My grades are a reflection of how well the teacher got his or her points across, and sometimes some points made by certain math teachers don't get across. Although I've suffered through my fair share of terrible and fantastic math teachers, there was one high school Algebra II teacher who I will never forget. We'll call this teacher Dr. Scary-Math. 

It was 2014. I have finally reached the high school label I've been waiting for: upperclassmen. With this label, your class schedule is basically a volleyball-- it can be tossed from one class to another. Sure you'll get placed in classes according to your credits, but you'll also get tossed in "filler" classes, meaning useless electives such as music appreciation and pottery. Thankfully I was placed in career path where all my classes are based around a GCC Marketing program (I did internships and extra classes around summers), which meant Junior year would be the last year for me to stay in school full time. This also meant that my Junior year would be the last year for me to take math. 

From petrifying rumors and gossip, I prayed to whatever deity I knew that by the time I'm a Junior, I will not get Algebra II with Dr. Scary-Math. Well apparently deities don't care about your irrational fear of math teachers because my first class was Algebra II with Dr. Scary-Math. I was going frantic just as much internally as I did externally. I spent my first day back in school asking every friend I saw if they had Dr. Scary-Math for their first period.

First day of class, we got into our non-assigned desks and Dr. Scary-Math stood up in front, arms crossed, greeting us with a wide smile which I knew meant that the first semester would be terrifying. I sat in the back, near the door. We went through the syllabus and Dr. Scary-Math said that no teacher was allowed to print their syllabus in color. But what do you know? Dr. Scary-Math's syllabus was in color. 

Fast forward to when we began "learning." I found that every rumor I heard was true. Dr. Scary-Math had favoritism. Every bright math student with an expensive calculator was a favorite. I had no calculator and all my quizzes scored 40s and below. (I wasn't the favorite.) The class pace was extremely fast too. By the time I can fully grasp and understand one problem, Dr. Scary-Math was already halfway explaining the next. My notes were unreadable even to myself. 

I tried everything to pick my grades up. I tried tutoring through other math teachers, teachers who don't teach math, tutoring from college-access programs, friends, online, and the textbook. Still, I wasn't understanding anything. And it didn't help that majority of the class wasn't doing well either (except for the two students who had really expensive calculators). 

Then I decided enough was enough and I mustered up the courage to ask Dr. Scary-Math for extra help. I stayed back during lunch and voiced out my confusion. Dr. Scary-Math then looked at me and said, "I went through your transcript and you got a high A in Algebra I." It's true because I took Algebra I with possibly the best math teacher to ever exist. Dr. Scary-Math then asked, "If you could do that, why aren't you doing well in my class?" Not knowing what to say, Dr. Scary-Math told me to stay in class and read the textbook. So I stayed and read as Dr. Scary-Math went out to get McDonalds.

Annoyed, frustrated, angered, and more confused than ever, I did what any rational student would do. I waited until the semester was over and begged the counselor to change my schedule. 

My schedule finally changed AND OH MY GOODNESS my 40s were turning into 90s. Math started to make more sense. My poor, sad, bruised up grades were picking up and I swear I heard the GPA angels sing Hallelujah. Math became a comrade rather an enemy. I didn't stress, worry, or stayed up all night studying for tests and exams anymore. By the time Junior year ended, I left with a new found appreciation for math and an odd memorization of the quadratic formula. And I was no longer afraid of math. 

Until college.

Damaged Art

I've always had such an adoration and respect for all types of art. And lately, I've been getting more in touch with the local art here on island. Last week, I visited the art building to see the art displays. And to my shock, the art building is the most run-down, dilapidated building on campus.

First off, there was no air conditioning. The sculpture and ceramics studio recently just got air conditioning last semester. The building isn't equipped with generators, so the power outages can get pretty bad. The hallways were plastered with old cabinets and display cases that looked like it hadn't been changed since the building first opened. Old art projects sat atop an old cabinet, collecting dust. Shelves of old, dried out paint, broken desks, and random pieces of scrap wood were scattered nearing the balcony exit. And for a building with beautiful art displayed, there wasn't much lightning. The hallways are dim, so during the night classes it's difficult to see the displays.

I strongly feel that the entire art building could use a couple renovations, such as extending the building so that all art classes are together. The Isla Center for Arts is located at the Dean's circle and so are a few photography classes. The building is too small that some art courses are held in different buildings. I believe that the art students deserve more than the conditions they are given, especially since they pay as equal the amount of tuition as with any student on campus. Can you imagine a full-time student, paying the full amount of tuition, learning in a classroom where there are no air conditioning and poor lighting?

What baffles me is how the gym is always well-kept. I understand that a lot of events and high school graduations take place in the field house gym, but that doesn't mean the school should neglect the learning conditions for the art students. The gym is fully air-conditioned and well-lit. Janitors and cleaning staff are constantly sweeping and mopping the floor and making sure that the bleachers are trash free.

It is clear to me that the field house gym is available to the public for use (with payment) and that is why it should always be maintained. However, is this fair to the students who are paying a lot of money to learn?

Hidden Treasure

My first class in the in Health Sciences building and I never fail to get up in the middle of the lecture to use the restroom. I usually go to the restroom left of the entrance after leaving the Crosswalk cafe. The restrooms take up a small hallway.

There are three restrooms. One for males, and two for females. (The second female restroom does not specifically say females, but it has flowers and no urinals, so it's a female restroom.) The two female restrooms are always in use no matter what time I go. And on bad days, there's a line. There were countless times where I'd be tempted to just use the males restroom, but the sight of a urinal kind of freaks me out a bit. So I end up just waiting until whoever comes out of one of the restrooms to finally use it.

However, I found another restroom just last week. I left class like usual to use the restroom. And like always, the two female restrooms were locked. Annoyed and desperate to keep me from having an accident in the middle of the hallway, I walked around the Health Sciences lobby. Right from the entrance, there are two hallways. One on the left and one on the right. The right hallway had janitor closets, a couple offices, and emergency exits. And guess what! The hallway also had restrooms. Hallelujah! And what's even better is that the restrooms are always empty!

Now, I don't go to the Health Sciences building unless I have a class there. Therefore I don't have the credibility to say that no one goes into that hallway other than staff and janitors. But from the looks of it, no one goes there other than staff and janitors. The restrooms seem to be really clean. I haven't checked out the males' restroom, but the females' restroom is so nice and spacious.

Listerine and hand soap

The door had three locks: a doorknob lock, a ball and chain lock, and a sliding bolt lock. If you're paranoid like me, you can lock all three so no one can come in and bother you. There were also two sinks. Both sinks had a can of air freshener and vanilla-scented dispensable soap. And for some reason, that bathroom also had spray deodorant and Listerine mouthwash. I don't touch those, but I am curious as to who does. The walls are painted a pastel green and fake flowers are displayed on a little shelf-table-thing. And there is always a stock of new paper towels and toilet tissue. But what I think is the most interesting about that bathroom is the weighing scale.

Shelf with fake flowers and weighing scale 

If there's anything you can take away from this story, it's the hopes that you have the time and curiosity to adventure through the hallways of the university's buildings. You'll never know that hidden treasures you'll find.